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How do we improve the return game?

Duff Man

Duff Man

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Junta Member
We were above average at times with Scott and Lockridge returning kickoffs. Others made spot appearances as well, including Sumler. Now, Scott and Sumler are gone. Lockridge is one of just two RBs with major experience. Can we afford to risk injury to Lockridge? Which players are other options?

The punt return situation was pretty bleak last season. Espinoza was the primary returner, while McKnight had spot duty as well when Espinoza was out with a thumb injury. In the end, neither was particularly effective as we finished dead last in the Big 12 in punt return average. Neither is a good option for 2010 IMO, so who can we turn to for a spark? Jefferson? Simmons?

Normally, I would not be all worried about the return game, but with our prolonged offensive struggles, we need every advantage we can get.

Thoughts?
 
I am comfortable with leaving Lockridge on KR duty.

We need to solve the PR issue though, maybe give Lock a shot back there or Simmons.
 
I am fairly confident that we will find a good reason to put average-at-best athletes back there in the return game this year again. We've done it every other year, and it didn't work, so I think we will stay the course.
 
buffs04 said:
I am fairly confident that we will find a good reason to put average-at-best athletes back there in the return game this year again. We've done it every other year, and it didn't work, so I think we will stay the course.
Click to expand...

I hate to agree with you but at some point the PR plan needs to evolve beyond "do drop it."
 
I know people get all worked up about walk ons these days, but sometimes they can contribute. Especially on special teams.

Quick should get a long look as our punt return man.

Jaffee will be in the mix as our kickoff return man. He actually averaged a bit more than B-Lock on the 6 KO returns he had last year.

Our blocking was actually pretty good last year, especially on kickoff returns. No reason that shouldn't be as good or better, though it may hurt some that we lost all those tight ends.
 
Our kick return team was ranked in the top 25 in the nation last year. Keep Lockridge back there. Jaffee does not have the game breaking speed that Lockridge has and Lockridge has a knack for finding the endzone. We need a home run threat back there like what we had with Josh Smith. Maybe you put someone like Codray Clark back there if he's ready to play? He could fill into that lead blocker role that Sumler has held the past couple seasons. It may be worth giving Polk a shot back there to give us two returners instead of a one returner/one lead blocker.

As for punt return, we just need to find a guy that can field the punt AND make a defender miss. Hopefully Hildreth can step into this role. Maybe Simmons?
 
It should be not problem increasing our PR yards. We averaged about 3 yards a return last year with a guy that was 5' tall catching the ball and falling down. Maybe we can find someone like 6'4" to do the same thing. That should translate into around a 20% increase in return yards.
 
I guess I can be all right with Lockridge as KR, at least it gets him in the game.

Buffnik's point about walk-on contributors is important. We should not immediately dismiss them as possible options just because Espinoza was ineffective. Chase McBride was effective as PR in 2007 (including two big returns late in the CSU and OU games) and no one would say he was a great athlete or anything. As others have said, the coaches have to move beyond the "he catches the punts so it is all good" mentality.
 
I got to believe they tried everyone at PR last year. The "he catches the punts so it is all good" is a better poison than he "sometimes catches the punts, but boy can he run with it" scenario. Riddle isn't that stupid folks.

I look for Q to get a lot of chances this spring at PR. In the fall, I'd expect one of the Jones boys, and Duncan to get some reps in practice. I know 1 offensive coach thinks Duncan has some bigtime potential as a playmaker.
 
buffaholic said:
The "he catches the punts so it is all good" is a better poison than he "sometimes catches the punts, but boy can he run with it" scenario. Riddle isn't that stupid folks.
Click to expand...

I present to you Exhibit A that Riddle IS, in fact, that stupid...

82912362.jpg
 
special teams have cost the Buffs AT LEAST 9 games, by my count, in the 4 years that this staff has been here. nine. i know it is somewhat subjective, but go back and look if you think i am way off on this. and, who has been in charge of special teams for these 4 miserable years? the riddler. we have sucked at every single aspect of special teams. every one. kicking, punting, returns, all of it... that's coaching, pure and simple. i honestly believe that hawkins would not be in the position he is in (a lame duck coach, walking the green mile) if he would have hired a competent special teams coach.
 
I'm not saying Riddle can coach. I do think that even HE can see that our return guys lacked any ability to break one. When he put Scotty back there, he was deperate to have someone catch the ball. I'd expect to see a full try out this spring.
 
I forgot to mention Parker Orms. He has good speed and the type of fearlessness that could make him a great punt returner.

Parker should also be a gunner on kickoff and punt coverage teams this year. Sleeper candidate for special teams POY next season.
 
only answer to this question is firing the coaches and see what develops for now. We have no idea what talent we have today.
 
Buffnik said:
I forgot to mention Parker Orms. He has good speed and the type of fearlessness that could make him a great punt returner.

Parker should also be a gunner on kickoff and punt coverage teams this year. Sleeper candidate for special teams POY next season.
Click to expand...

i was going to say orms as well. ****, terrel smith might take the job, he knows how to catch it, we know that much.
 
Two things, fire the riddler and stop playing walk-ons and have talented player who can hit that burst of speed give you an advantage.
 
buffaholic said:
I'm not saying Riddle can coach. I do think that even HE can see that our return guys lacked any ability to break one. When he put Scotty back there, he was deperate to have someone catch the ball. I'd expect to see a full try out this spring.
Click to expand...

As a point of contradiction the Riddler was going to start ESPY over Josh smith until he broke his clavicle and missed that season. I am really not sure that Kent thinks about much besides catching the ball, a point that i understand if you have a steam-roller of an offense but we dont, he needs to take more risks.
 
I'd settle for the punt returners not trying to catch line drive punts over their shoulder when they are inside the five yard line. That would be a step up.
 
How bout going for returns every now and again instead of always going for a block and NEVER GETTING IT?
 
All things being equal, the most important job of the punt returner is to catch everything. The yards lost by letting some bounce really mount up.

That said, getting 3 yards per punt return is completely unacceptable. Is it too much to ask that we have someone who fields everything and can average about 8 yards a return on the ones he doesn't fair catch?

Espinoza was last in the NCAAs in 2009, and it wasn't even close: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/ncaa-m-footbl-fbs-ind-punt-returns.html
 
Espy will be the punt returner I have almost no doubt about that. The coaches love him and seemingly have no faith in anyone else to catch the ball. At least we have some options at kick returner, I'm fine with either Lockridge or Jaffee doing it, they both had some nice returns last year. Maybe I'll be wrong and they'll let Canty have a go at PR, that would be nice.
 
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